POLICE DECISION-MAKING (FROM DECISION-MAKING IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM - REVIEWS AND ESSAYS, 1975, BY DON M GOTTFREDSON - SEE NCJ-31371)

• NCJ Number: 55591
• Author(s): H E PEPINSKI
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 32 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CRITERIA WHEREBY POLICE DECIDE HOW OR WHETHER TO ENFORCE THE LAW ARE DISCUSSED, AND A PROCEDURE IS RECOMMENDED FOR DETERMINING COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS OF POLICE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT DECISIONMAKING.

Abstract

POLICE DECISIONMAKING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OCCURS IN TWO GENERAL AREAS OF ENFORCEMENT--REACTIVE AND PROACTIVE. IF PATROL OFFICERS RESPOND TO A CALL FROM THE DISPATCHER, THEIR ACTION IS REACTIVE, AND IF THEY ENGAGE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE, THEIR ACTION IS PROACTIVE. A STUDY OF THE LITERATURE INDICATES THAT THE FOLLOWING FACTORS IN REACTIVE SITUATIONS INFLUENCE THE OFFICER'S DECISIONS AS TO HOW AND WHETHER TO ENFORCE THE LAW: (1) PERCEPTIONS OF WHAT DEPARTMENTAL POLICY EXPECTS IN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES, (2) ANTICIPATION OF SITUATIONS DEEMED TO WARRANT OFFENSE REPORTS SUCH THAT THE OFFICER'S OWN PROPHECIES ARE FULFILLED, (3) THE DEMEANOR OF THE PERSON INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT, AND (4) THE PERCEIVED SOCIAL STATUS OF THE INVOLVED CITIZEN AND PREVALENT SOCIAL ATTITUDES TOWARD THAT CLASS HELD BY THE MOST POWERFUL SOCIAL GROUPS. THE FIRST TWO OF THESE FACTORS ARE UNIVERSALISTIC; THAT IS, STANDARDS FOR ENFORCEMENT ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE PARTICULAR CITIZEN INVOLVED; THE SECOND TWO FACTORS ARE PARTICULARISTIC, BECAUSE THEY DEPEND ON THE NATURE OF THE PARTICULAR POLICE-CITIZEN RELATIONSHIP. THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IN FACTORS INVOLVED IN PROACTIVE DECISIONMAKING AS COMPARED TO REACTIVE DECISIONMAKING IS THAT RELIANCE ON STATUS IDENTIFICATION IS NOT APPARENT IN PROACTIVE SITUATIONS, AND THE DEMEANOR OF THE CITIZEN IN PROACTIVE CIRCUMSTANCES IS A FACTOR ONLY AFTER INITIAL DECISIONS TO TREAT CASES AS MERITING LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION. DEMEANOR AND STATUS IDENTIFICATION ARE UNSATISFACTORY BASES FOR POLICE DECISIONMAKING, AND UNIVERSALISTIC CRITERIA ARE TO BE PREFERRED, PROVIDED THEY ARE DEVELOPED IN INTERACTION WITH THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE CITIZENRY SERVED. IN ORDER THAT THIS MIGHT BE DONE, POLICE REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD MEET REGULARLY WITH CITIZEN GROUPS IN VARIOUS POLICE DISTRICTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING APPROPRIATE STANDARDS FOR POLICE OPERATIONS IN THOSE DISTRICTS. POLICE USE OF DISCRETION IN EACH DISTRICT WOULD THEN BE ASSESSED BY THE STANDARDS OF THAT DISTRICT. THE PROCEDURE FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS SUGGESTED PLAN IS DETAILED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)